Palestinian President Yasser Arafat held talks in Amman Tuesday with Jordan's King Abdullah on ways of ending the "hardships" of the Palestinian people and lifting the Israeli blockade on Palestinian territories, said reports.

The two leaders discussed efforts exerted to end the suffering the Palestinian people, and ways of bringing the peace process on track, reported the official Petra news agency.

Palestinian charge d'affaires Atallah Khairy earlier told AFP that Arafat and Abdullah would also discuss "the consequences of the planned formation of a (national unity) government in Israel after a decision by the Labor Party to join the cabinet."

Arafat then flew later Tuesday to Cairo where he was scheduled to hold similar talks on Wednesday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and to brief him also on his meeting Sunday with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Khairy told the agency.

Arafat's visit to Jordan is the second since Saturday when he held talks with Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb in Amman, as Powell began his tour of the Middle East which also included Jordan.

"These visits are part of Jordanian-Palestinian efforts to coordinate their views ahead of the Arab summit" which will be held in Amman on March 27, Khairy said.

Earlier Tuesday, Abdullah received Mubarak for talks focusing on the Arab summit which both leaders hope will mark a "beginning" in Arab unity, said Petra.

At the end of their meetings Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah al-Khatib said that the Palestinian cause remained the top priority for Cairo and Amman, which are both bound by a peace treaty to Israel, Petra quoted him as saying.

Khatib added that both leaders discussed efforts to boost bilateral economic cooperation through setting up investment joint ventures, according to Petra – Albawaba.com